Each day in November—leading up to the winter meetings—Sporting News will analyze the offseason to-do list of a major league team. Today: the Minnesota Twins.

For the first time since 1999-2000, the Twins have consecutive last-place finishes in the AL Central. This comes on the heels of consecutive first-place finishes in 2009 and 2010 and after reaching the postseason six times in nine seasons. And the 2012 team was that bad even with catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau healthy all season. The finger can be pointed directly at the rotation.

OFFSEASON AGENDA

Twins starting pitchers finished 29th in the majors with a 5.40 ERA and a .291 batting average against, and their 75 losses were one off the major league "lead." Compounding the problem is that they finished last in the majors with only 541 strikeouts. Obviously, Minnesota will be on the lookout for starters this offseason.

The one bright spot in 2012 was rookie lefthander Scott Diamond, who went 12-9 with a 3.54 ERA. But he can't be counted on as an ace and had the staff-wide strikeout deficiency, fanning only 90 in 173 innings. At this point, Diamond, Liam Hendriks and Cole De Vries, who have 60 major league starts among them, are the Twins' 2013 rotation. Prized prospect Kyle Gibson, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is a long shot.

Aside from the rotation, Minnesota could use upgrades at shortstop and second base, where Pedro Florimon and Jamey Carroll are listed as the respective starters.

POSSIBLE DEPARTURES

The big question is whether the Twins will make a trade to address their rotation needs. Among their trade chips are left fielder Josh Willingham (team-high 35 homers and 110 RBIs), center fielder Denard Span (17 stolen bases) and Morneau (finally over his concussion problems).

Willingham would net the most in return, but his loss would leave a huge power void in a lineup that finished tied for 26th in the majors in homers. Span represents a cheaper alternative to the teams that are pursuing free-agent center fielders such as Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton. Morneau is under contract for one more season (at $14 million), making him attractive. In fact, all three players should interest the Tampa Bay Rays, a team drowning in rotation depth.

Righthander Carl Pavano, who didn’t pitch after June 1 because of a shoulder injury, will test the free-agent market. And Baker, who missed the 2012 season after Tommy John surgery, is now a Cub.

The Twins already have declined their $6 million option on reliever Matt Capps, who was limited to 30 games last season because of a shoulder injury. Glen Perkins, who led the team with 16 saves, likely will enter the 2013 season as the closer.